State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona is owned by the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, a public body created by state law. The Arizona Cardinals play there as tenants under a long-term lease, and State Farm’s name on the building comes from a paid sponsorship deal, not any ownership stake.
The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority Holds Title
The legal owner is the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, usually called AZSTA. Under A.R.S. § 5-802, the authority is established as a corporate and political body with the rights, powers, and immunities of a municipal corporation, including eminent domain. That makes it a government entity, not a private company. Its property and operating revenue are exempt from state and local income and property taxes because the law treats AZSTA’s work as a governmental function.
AZSTA was created specifically because the stadium was built with public money, and Arizona law required a public entity to hold the title on a facility financed with tax-backed bonds.
The Cardinals Are Tenants, Not Owners
The Arizona Cardinals do not own State Farm Stadium. The team plays there under a use agreement with AZSTA that grants it the right to host home games and manage gameday operations. AZSTA’s agreements archive lists both an “Amended and Restated Cardinals Use Agreement” and a separate “Facility Use Fee Agreement,” which together define the financial relationship.
Under the lease, the Cardinals pay rent for the first 30 years after the stadium opened in 2006, with the option to renew for up to six additional five-year periods. The team also contributes to operational costs like staffing and maintaining interior spaces during team events. Keeping the facility under public ownership leaves it available year-round for concerts, bowl games, and other events.
One wrinkle in the agreement: if the Cardinals ever stop using the facility and other stadium events fall below minimum attendance thresholds, the property can revert to the team after the initial 30-year term. That gives the Cardinals a fallback interest, not current ownership.
State Farm Only Bought the Name
State Farm Insurance does not own the stadium. The company’s name on the building comes from an 18-year naming rights agreement announced in 2018. Before that, the venue was called University of Phoenix Stadium. It is a marketing sponsorship: State Farm pays for branding visibility on the facade, signage, and promotional materials, and the Cardinals receive the revenue.
Team owner Michael Bidwill declined to disclose the financial terms, citing a confidentiality agreement. The arrangement grants State Farm no property rights, no say in facility operations, and no legal interest in the building.
Why a Public Authority Owns It: Proposition 302
The ownership structure traces back to how the stadium was paid for. Maricopa County voters approved Proposition 302 in November 2000, with 52 percent voting in favor. The measure authorized a 1 percent increase in the county’s hotel bed tax and a 3.25 percent surcharge on car rentals within Maricopa County, both effective March 1, 2001. The idea was that tourists and visitors would shoulder most of the cost.
Construction ran roughly $455 million. Because public tax revenue backed the bonds, state law required a public entity to hold the title, and AZSTA was created to serve that role. Revenue from the two taxes services the debt and funds AZSTA’s broader mission.
What Happens in 2031
Both the hotel bed tax increase and the car rental surcharge are authorized for exactly 30 years and expire on February 28, 2031. After that date, AZSTA loses its two primary revenue streams. The Cardinals’ initial 30-year lease obligation runs on a similar timeline, since the stadium opened in 2006.
If the Cardinals stay and events keep drawing crowds, the lease can renew in five-year increments up to six times. If the team leaves and attendance drops below contractual minimums, the property could revert to the Cardinals. Either way, the 2031 sunset will force Arizona taxpayers and elected officials to decide how the stadium gets funded next.